Ever wondered what it takes to make the leap from just dreaming about being an actor, musician or model to actually relocating to Hollywood to make it happen? Web series If I Can Dream - created by Simon Fuller - follows a group of aspiring artists as they pursue their entertainment industry goals. We caught up with actor Ben Elliott to chat about the journey so far...

How have you found the Dream experience to date?
"It's been great, I love it. I'm able to just focus and work on my craft and have the opportunity not to have to get a job and pay rent and all that! (laughs) Also just being connected to people from all over the world, that's really cool."

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What was your ultimate goal when you joined the show?
"To get a better understanding of the craft of acting and become a better actor, to network with people in the business and hopefully get some type of a fan base. My ultimate goal is to be in a film or a TV show or a play."

Well, you've had loads of networking opportunities so far with all the industry professionals who come to visit you at the house! Have you had a favorite guest?
"Eric Roberts and his wife just came over and they were really great. He's an experienced actor and his wife is a casting director and they've been in the business for a really long time. Everything they had to say was helpful and they were really open to whatever questions we had. He gave me advice about auditioning, not to be nervous and to focus on the work."

Shirley Jones and Marty Ingels spoke to you about dealing with rejection - do you think you can handle any criticism you might get?
"They were telling us we needed thick skin, and coming into this business I knew that. I can handle the criticism. I just try not to take anything too personally. I was modeling too so I faced a lot of rejection with that, and with that they are just looking at you and rejecting you. With acting they are rejecting your character and choices or whatever. I try not to look at any comments on Hulu or anything like that though, because people can say bad stuff!"

How was it shooting the short film for Deborah Anderson?
"I had a great time doing it, it was the first thing I'd really done for acting. I'd been in a music video but the short film, it was like, 'This is what I'm going to be doing' and I loved it. It will be released - she's actually editing it today and tomorrow, and she took a lot of stills. I can't wait to see it."

You were initially hesitant about stripping off for the film but you eventually did - are you happy with that choice?
"Yes I am. I wasn't sure, you know? I justified it in my head that this is something the character would do so I was fine with it and I trusted Deborah and how she would use it. She was saying it would be a side shot, it's not going to be the angle you saw in the episode. My biggest concern was our camera crew being there filming, because their camera was set up from the angle you saw, but the camera Deborah used was set up outside and shooting through the glass so it was kind of distorted."

Will you get naked again or maybe have some sort of no-nudity clause in the future?!
"No-nudity clause! (laughs) If I need to for a certain role then yes, I would do it again. If it's appropriate and as a character I could justify it in my head as something he would do, then I would go for it. Definitely never anything full frontal."

If you could have played any movie character who would it be?
"I would say Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke so I could play Luke! And also James Dean's character in East Of Eden. Those are the kind of characters I like. Also Johnny Depp in Blow. I'm not even sure if I want to go comedy or dramatic, I think I could do both. If it's good writing, that is all I care about, that a character has good depth – that's all that matters."

Now that Justin and more recently Veronica have left the house have you started thinking about when you might leave too?
"I think I'll leave when the time is right, when I get a role in a film or TV show. As an actor it takes a long time. My gut feeling was Justin would leave first and then Giglianne, or the other way round, and I would be here as long as I could. I'm new to the craft and this town and as an actor it sometimes takes years to get your break. Hopefully I'll get mine sooner than later!"

What did you think about Alex and Veronica's kiss in the pool?
"I didn't see it. I knew it would happen so it wasn't too big of a shock for me. When she visited we went on a date, I was definitely liking her and all that and then she came back and I could tell her and Alex had something going on. I wasn't surprised."

You recently tweeted that you were at the Playboy mansion - what was that about?!
"Alex got an invite from someone who works for ESPN who had an ESPY awards party at the Playboy mansion. I was his plus one! It was a dream come true. Growing up you think about going there and it happened. It was just so much fun - good party, free food, free beverage and a lot of women!"

Also lots of networking possibilities!
"Yes! I actually did network. I met some movie people like Joaquin Phoenix, which was really cool. I did do some good networking and had some good fun. Overall it might have been one of my best nights here."

If I Can Dream streams live online and new episodes are uploaded to Hulu every Tuesday